Phonograph record portfolio



Oct. 22, 1963 T, M. COREY ETAL 3,107,783 PHONOGRAPH RECORD PORTFOLIO Filed Feb. 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT S THOMAS M. COR

CHESTE/R A. WAKEFIELD ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1963 T. M. COREY ETAL PHONOGRAPH RECORD PORTFOLIO 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1961 ll G. 5

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,107,783 PHONOGRAPH RECORD PORTFGLIO Thomas M. Corey and Chester A. Wakefield, Roanoke, Va., assignors to Creative Packaging, Incorporated, Indianapolis, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Filed Feb. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 90,479 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-62) This invention relates to a container or portfolio adapted to encase phonograph records for storage and merchandising display purposes.

The envelopes heretofore used for this purpose generally have been made of heavy paper or chip-board stock, and consisted of two square panels joined at their side and bottom edges, but open along their upper edges. In inserting and withdrawing records from such envelopes, one is required to reach inwardly and grasp the ungrooved central portion of the record in such a manner as to avoid touching the sound track or grooved portion. This operation requires great care and skill. Moreover, in withdrawing the record from the envelope the upper, unjoined edges of the envelope must be bellied tor flexed outwardly by pressure against the side edges of the envelope to provide suflicient clearance and to prevent contact and possible scoring of the grooves with the upper edges of the envelope during the withdrawal and insertion procedures. Furthermore, the use of the customary envelopes not infrequently results in the lodging of flecks or small pieces of the chip-board stock in the sound grooves to the detriment of quality reproduction during the playing of the record.

With the advent of high fidelity and stereophonic records, it has become more than ever desirable to encase such records in a manner which permits their removal and insertion from a protective container of such a character that the fingers do not touch the sound track grooves, 'and that insofar as possible the latter are kept free of dirt, lint and other detritus.

To the consumer, the merchandising appeal of expensive, high quality records is materially enhanced if the container per se displays the records, and/ or the libretto, placard or other indicia pertaining to the recording and accompanying it, is protectively and neatly displayed in a manner bespeaking the quality of the related recording.

The present invention has as one of its objects, to provide a record portfolio which supports the record in such manner that the sound grooves are free of any contact with the container;

Another object is to provide a record portfolio which by its construction permits a full and complete opening thereof for removal or insertion of the record;

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the record may be removed and replaced readily by a thumb and forefinger contact with the peripheral edge of the record and its ungrooved center portion;

A still further object is to provide a portfolio of a character that when closed efiects a dust-proof seal for the record;

Another object is to provide a record portfolio of the character described which, while supporting the record so that the sound track is out of contact with any other surface, affords a clear, visual display of the record and/ or any literature, picture libretto or the like in an attractive, neat, merchandising manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portfolio of the character set forth which may be readily adapted to contain a single or multiple records, and which if a number of such portfolios are stacked flat, one upon another, will retain a certain degree of resiliency to provide protection to the encased records and display placards from defacement or impact of shock.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention "ice will become apparent with reference to the specification and the drawings which follow:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the improved recordportfolio, a single record being shown in phantom by dot and dash lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portfolio in assembled, closed position, taken from the top;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but taken from the bottom;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional-elevation taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the portfolio containing two records instead of a single record;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional elevation of one of the locking tabs and buttons for detachably securing the cover :and bottom of the portfolio in contacting closed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, detailed elevation of said locklng button and tab but with the latter engaged over the former; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating how a cord or wire may be strung through the hinge portion of the portfolio for hanging it upon a vertical surface for merchandising display purposes.

Referring to FIG. 1 (reading from bottom to top), the improved record portfolio comprises in combination a frarne generally indicated at 10 preferably of a singlepiece construction, molded or otherwise suitably formed of semi-rigid or substantially resilient plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene; a substantially square pane or panel 11 and a circular pane or panel 12, each being preferably formed of relatively rigid, transparent, plastic material such as polystyrene or the like; a square placard or mat 13 of paper-board stock which may be imprinted with indicia on one or both sides with pictorial representation or literature pertinent to the score or scores contained on record R which has the usual spindle hole H; and a flanged spacer 14 having an upstanding spindle sleeve 15. Spacer 14- may be formed of cellulose acetate or any other suitable plastic material.

Frame 10, as before stated, can be molded or formed in a single piece comprised of a cover section 16 and a bottom section 17, said being interconnected by a continuous, transversely extending hinge 18 formed by recessed groove 20 which reduces the material at the hinge line to a thickness of the order or .020 of an inch, thereby making for considerable flexibility between cover andhottom sections 16 and 17, yet providing a tough, durable hinge co-extensive with and continuously interconnecting cover section 16 with bottom section 17. A

:Cover section 16 is provided with a substantially square opening or window 20 and bottom section 17 is provided with 'a circular opening orwindow 21. Around the entire interval periphery of coversection 16 there are pro vided a pair of adjacent grooves or rabbets 22 and 23, the uppermost groove 22 (FIG. 4) being somewhat longer and wider than the adjacent groove 23 and corresponding substantially in dimensions to; the length and' width of transparent panel 12, and adjacent groove 23 corresponding substantially to the external dimensions of placard 13. Likewise in depth these grooves or rabbets 22 and 23 correspond substantially .to the thicknesses of panel 11 and placard 13 respectively.

Bottom section 17 of frame 10 is similarly provided internally with a continuous, circular groove or rabbet 24 of a diameter and depth substantially equal to the diameter and depth of circular panel 12. Immediately upon removal of the polypropylene or polyethylene frame 10 from its mold, i.e., while it is in a still warm condition,

panel 11 and placard 13 can be snapped or press-fitted into their respective grooves 22 and 23 and, likewise, circular panel 12 can be mounted within its groove 24 in bottom section 17. Upon normal cooling of frame 10 there occurs a slight shrinkage/which secures panels 11 and 12, and placard *13 in place in their respective grooves 22, 24 and 23.

It should be understood that groove 23 for placard 13 may be left empty or the groove may, if desired, be made only on two sides or two ends of cover section 17, so that placard 13 may be later snapped into position by the record manufacturer. Alternatively, placard 13 may be simply mounted on the under surface of the square, transparent panel 1 1 by means of a clear, pressure-sensitive adhesive. In any event, the purchaser if he desires may remove placard 13 either from groove 23 or from its adhesive contact with panel 11, to permit its examination.

Centrally of circular panel 12 there is formed. an upstanding spindle post 25 of diameter slightly less than the diameter of the spindle hole H of record R. As shown in FIG. 4, immediately above groove 24 and continuously internally of circular window 21 there is formed a bevel 26 (FIG. 4). This bevel is of such an angle as to engage the outer periphery of record R and maintain it at such elevation that the sound grooves of record R do not contact the surface of panel 12, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The internal square faces of cover section 16 and bot tom section 17 are correspondingly match-beveled as at 27 (FIGS. 4 and 5) so that when cover section 16 is swung about its hinge 18 into closed position over recrd R as shown in FIGS. 4 and there is provided a tight, dust-sealing engagement between the two sections.

The flanged spacer 1 4 is placed over spindle post 25 and the height of sleeve 15 may be shown in FIG. 4 such that its upper end just contacts the under surface of placard or brochure 13 when the portfolio is closed thereby holding record R in snug relation with the peripheral bevel 26.

Latch means for securing cover section 16 in contacting, closed relation with bottom section 17 are provided along the outer edges (the edge opposite hinge 18). The latch means comprise a pair of spaced lugs 28 recessed in theforward edge 29 of cover section 16. Each lug 28 has molded or otherwise provided thereon projecting button 30, preferably of tapered formation as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. correspondingly spaced, tabs 31 are hingedly formed on the outer edge (the edge opposite hinge 18) of bottom section 17. Each tab 31 has an aperture 32 arranged to snap over its corresponding beveled button 30. Tabs 31 are each provided with an offset, upstanding projection 3-3 which provides clearance space 34 for admission of a thumbnail to effect disengagement of tabs 31 from button 39. The recessing of lugs 28 in forward edge 29 of top section 16 provides a flush forward surface of the entire portfolio when tabs 31 are locked in home position upon button 33. As will be understood, the positions of the latch means may be reversed, if desired.

Referring to FIG. 5 it will be seen that if it is desired to accommodate two records, R, within the record portfolio, this oan be accomplished simply by placing the upper record R over the spindle sleeve 15. The uppermost record Will not be held against lateral displacement by bevel 26 which is desirable in that there is no stress placed upon the spindle hole H but is held against sidewise shifting movement by forming the outer diameter of sleeve 15 so that it snugly fits within the spindle hole H of the superimposed record R. The flange of flanged spacer 14-15 should be of .insuificiently great diameter to come in contact with the sound grooves of the record.

In one or more of the four corners of bottom section 17 there may be formed a finger depression, 35 (see FIGS. 1 and 3), to facilitate removal of a record from within the portfolio. By placing the tip of the finger under the peripheral edge of the record the middle finger may be placed directly in contact with the nongrooved, central portion of the record for removing a record without any contact with the sound grooves.

The groove 19 (FIGS. '1 and 5, particularly FIG. 5) permits the passing of a cord 36 of suitable material such as wire, therethrough so that the portfolio may be hung, as shown in FIG. 8, in a manner akin to a picture upon a vertical surface for merchandising display purposes. The loop of cord is readily removable, simply by opening the record container to permit the loop to be slipped off. Thus the loop can be removedby the dealer at the time of purchase and reused by him for the display of other record containers, or can be removed by the customer at his pleasure.

It should be understood that various modifications may be made in the invention herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:

1. A phonograph record portfolio comprising a onepiece frame of semi-rigid, plastic material having bottom and cover sections interconnected by a continuous strip hinge integrally formed therewith, said bottom section having a beveled, circumferentially formed edge adjacent said rigid plastic material adapted to engage the periphery of a record contained in said portfolio thereby to support said record out of groove contact with the surface of said rigid, plastic material, said bottom section further having a record spindle post formed centrally in said bottom sections rigid plastic fitment with a lesser diameter than the spindle aperture in a record contained in said portfolio, at flanged spacer means mountable upon said record, said flange on said spacer being of lesser diameter than the innermost grooves on the surface of said record, said flanged spacer including an upstanding spindle sleeve having an inner diameter sufficiently great to permit said sleeve to be fitted over said spindle post,

and of a height sufiicient to contact said cover section when said cover and bottom sections are latched in contacting, closed position.

2. A phonograph record portfolio according to claim 1 wherein said upstanding spindle sleeve has an outer diameter of a size suflicient to fit within the record aperture of a record placed in superposed relation over said first or peripheral-edge engaged record.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A PHONOGRAPH RECORD PORTFOLIO COMPRSING A ONEPIECE FRAME OF SEMI-RIGID, PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING BOTTOM AND COVER SECTIONS INTERCONNECTED BY CONTINUOUS STRIP HINGE INTERGRALLY FORMED THEREWITH, SAID BOTTOM SECTION HAVING A BEVELED, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FORMED EDGE ADJACENT SAID RIGID PLASTIC MATERIAL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE PERIPHERY OF A RECORD CONTAINED IN SAID PORTFOLIO THEREBY TO SUPPORT SAID RECORD OUT OF GROOVE CONTACT WITH THE SURFACE OF SAID RIGID, PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID BOTTOM SECTION FURTHER HAVING A RECORD SPINDLE POST FORMED CENTRALLY IN SAID BOTTOM SECTION''S RIGID PLASTIC FITMENT WITH A LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE SPINDLE APERTURE IN A RECORD CONTAINED IN SAID PORTFOLIO, A FLANGED SPACER MEANS MOUNTABLE UPON SAID RECORD, SAID FLANGE ON SAID SPACER BEING OF LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE INNERMOST GROOVES ON THE SURFACE OF SAID RECORD, SAID FLANGED SPACER INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING SPINDLE SLEEVE HAVING AN INNER DIAMETER SUFFICIENTLY GREAT TO PERMIT SAID SLEEVE TO BE FITTED OVER SAID SPINDLE POST, AND OF A HEIGHT SUFFICIENT TO CONTACT SAID COVER SECTION WHEN SAID COVER AND BOTTOM SECTIONS ARE LATCHED IN CONTACTING, CLOSED POSITION. 